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Verse 6.46

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः। कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikaḥ karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

Word-by-Word Meanings

tapasvibhyaḥ-than the ascetics
adhikaḥ-greater
yogī-the yogi
jñānibhyaḥ-than the learned
karmibhyaḥ-than the ritualists
tasmāt-therefore
yogī bhava-become a yogi

Translation

The yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater even than the learned scholar, and greater than the ritualistic worker. Therefore, be a yogi, O Arjuna.

Commentary

Krishna establishes the supremacy of yoga over three other spiritual paths: tapas (austerity), jñāna (scholarship), and karma (ritualism). The direct command 'yogī bhava' (become a yogi) is Krishna's clear instruction to Arjuna, setting up the climactic final verse.

Themes

yogajnanakarma